Truck Shop
Senior Member
The proper way to do under carriage/tracks is when it gets worn out----------
sell it.
sell it.
Didn't even think of the litigious end of it. To busy looking at trying to get one. YOU bring up an excellent point regarding that. No, the track wasn't a Positive Pin Retension (PPR) system (I added that for anyone else looking at this thread who might not know what PPR stands for). Just a 2" pin squished into a really tight hole on a CAT 336 that has had the track thrown a couple of times because the tensioner was screwed up and the owner didn't want to replace it. Then monkey's hammered the track back on with the bucket. It was driven around for a while with a broken pin because.........hey, it moves just fine with a broken pin. I don't want to take the time or spend the money to fix it right now...........so the links got screwed up.........etc, etc, etc. Now it's an emergency and needs to FIXED NOW and CAT didn't have all the parts.........BLLLAAAAHHHHHH. So, ultimately; my body pays and my mental attitude pays for trying to ETHNIC rig the track back together.Here's a little food for thought.
Check with your insurance people and see if you are covered when renting out or loaning your tools.
I own a 100 and a 50 ton press and I don't loan either.
If you want to hear a horror story about a track press wreck PM me.
I have never heard of anyone charging separate for a press.
Was the track you had problems a PPR track?
If you deal with those you will need more tooling.
I have been doing this about 50 years and it don't get easier.
Good Luck
Bob
LOVE THAT!!!The proper way to do under carriage/tracks is when it gets worn out----------
sell it.
Didn't you say you needed a track press for the KW???With supply chain issues worsening and availability of a replacement pin questionable at times the press would be a better choice as could reuse a old pin for a short term if did need a replacement until it arrived. For older and Orphan Machines it is not a question of saving pins but a necessity.
Slight tumble? Another 50 bucks you would have been totaled.KW is sort of on hold at the moment as I heal from a slight tumble, cracked a pair of ribs.
So you use a tie rod system?? Trying to educate myself on which way is the best to go..........so please bear with in mundane questions.I have 3 Track Pin press sets and like Bluox I have been at this work for more than 50 years so I have a good idea of the work involved, you will see loads of interesting snaps of my work in the Caterpillar sprocket pulling thread, anyhow the pressing of Master pins that are 6 months old or more is a total waste of time, just cut them out with the gas and stop messing about as the cost is not worth it as the pin will have loads of wear, the D8 runs a 50mm pin not an 1" 3/4 as listed try the old Vintage D8 for this size, anyhow I really only press new pins in and it's not a game I would let anyone use my kit as it can soon go wrong, I work by myself near always and would not be happy to have any Tom Dick or Harry stood around in case of drama, the pin press in the above script looks a handy thing for someone but not for me it's to ungainly and bulky, I would have a pin pressed and gone while you would still be looking for your number 23, as for earning coins I charge my standard rate plus an extra press charge, or quote a price for 1 or 2 pins to be pressed knowing that the second pin in the other track (often) takes only a few min's to press as all the kit is out, I use the 2 CAT tension rod system it has now been superseded by CAT's money men but I love as it's light strong and works a treat, Big Nozzi do a mean press also Berco but as for hire tools I would forget it, also the $500 charge thought you might struggle to get fools to pay this sort of coin, in the U.K. Equipment owners would just laugh. tctractors
Sorry to hear that!! I hope they heal fast..........but sadly, at our age bumps and tumbles are felt for weeks instead of days or hours back when we were young bucks!!KW is sort of on hold at the moment as I heal from a slight tumble, cracked a pair of ribs.
back when we were young bucks!!
The insurance has gotten the total bill from the doctors and the hospital yet. One more cotton swab and he'll be totalled!! LOLSlight tumble? Another 50 bucks you would have been totaled.
Bob
I don't owe money on anything. I buy everything with cash...........or I put it on the company credit card and pay that off the same month. I HATE OWING THE BANKS ANYTHING!! Right or wrong............thats my mentality. I don't buy toys ............if I'm going to buy something, then it needs to be useful and earn me money. I look at it this way............I could probably turn around and sell it a few years from now or whenever and not lose money. In fact, it would probably appreciate............based on the way commodities and tool and equipment prices are going. Just don't want to buy something and say.........Gee, I should have gone with the other system...........this one doesn't cover all my needs.It would be great if there was away to real know if it was a smart move to spend the money on some thing. I guess if you dont owe alot on other stuff and you are going to stay in the business then it would be ok. I think there are times when buying a tool,truck or piece of equipment dosent make scents and will not pay for its self alone but it helps out so much in the big picture its the best money ever spent.
I don't owe money on anything. I buy everything with cash...........or I put it on the company credit card and pay that off the same month. I HATE OWING THE BANKS ANYTHING!! Right or wrong............thats my mentality. I don't buy toys ............if I'm going to buy something, then it needs to be useful and earn me money. I look at it this way............I could probably turn around and sell it a few years from now or whenever and not lose money. In fact, it would probably appreciate............based on the way commodities and tool and equipment prices are going. Just don't want to buy something and say.........Gee, I should have gone with the other system...........this one doesn't cover all my needs.
Febuary 2021 4x8 sheet of AR400 $627
Febuary 2022 4x8 1/2" of AR400 $1850.........WTF!!
And honestly............nobody knows how long any of us are going to be around. Maybe I'll keep going until I'm 70?? Maybe next week I'll say SCREW THIS!! I'M DONE!! COME ON HONEY...........we're moving to Maine (that ain't happening for 4 more years............kids need to finish high school........then ship them off to college). Maybe the dog and i will move to Maine..............NOW YOUR THINKING WITH YOUR DIPSTICK JIMMY!! LOL
A couple hundred million more dollars and I'll be taking the helicopter to the airport, to take the jet to the next airport, then take the helicopter from that airport out to the yacht crewed by the bikini clad babes.............with the dog. And all this turning wrenches crap will be behind me. THERE!! How's that for a plan??!!LOL
I feel if you are up to cutting slots in plates to make the pad fit you need to really think about the task as all you are doing is damaging someones equipment, the cylinders I use are 105 ton and 74 ton standard CAT Service press items, I do have a 200 Ton hollow cylinder for nasty jobs, there is a trick you can do so when you press up the pin it keeps the link spacing correct to always fit the pad, I have a large range of dummy pins up to 63mm that make things very easy and a load of press head collars to fit from a Fiat FL4 pin up to the largest pin I need to press in at 63 mm, i also have short dummy plates that I can bolt to the links to retain the bolt spacing, I don't use these very often as I like to think I can do things faster with the trick, the 2 Tie rods are still in the CAT tool book and work well , I would think hard about blowing big coins on something that looks an animal to mess with, I have posted plenty of pictures of pin pressing and know how to make it pay, the secret would be do the job yourself with your own kit, let no one hire it or go near it and you have a Market to yourself, if they want a pin pressed they come to you only, the difference in pin length and Diameter due to who's made the chain will also get you struggling, so always check the pin is the correct spec before getting any kit out, also always get the Equipment owners to supply all the hardware then you cannot get in the wrong, I have about 2 ton's of press tooling so I get plenty of Rum jobs, sadly I am at the end of my time now and have already cut back to having Sunday afternoon off 2 times a month. tctractorsJOHN,
WOW!!! It's almost like you were there!! LOL Was that you lurking in the shadows of the dark night?? Yeah, by the time I got to the track pads.........finish line and my bed in sight..........I had run out of patience. YES, the bolt holes didn't line up!! Off by 1/2 the bolt diameter. NO............didn't take the time to mess w/ the links. Pulled out the blue tip track pad hole adjuster while muttering to myself........."4 tracks pads..........pack up........get out..........4 track pads..........pack up.........get out............come on........you can do it...........KEEP MOVING!!! DON'T STOP!!! DON'T THINK ABOUT IT!! JUST DO IT!! LETS GO FARRELL!! MOVE WITH A PURPOSE!! "(my old sergeants voice in my ear).
And if someone asked me to moneky w/ a PC1000 track...........hard pass, thank you for asking!!
So.........what are your thoughts on keeping the links from getting squished together?? I've thought about........after this last debacle........making a jig with a spacer to keep the links in place while they get squished.
Also wondered if 100 tons is enough or should go w/ a 150T unit. And the debate on C press or Tie Rod rages in my mind daily. What thoughts, good sire; on Tie rod versus C press??
Just in from putting a Hiab knuckle boom back together again on a form truck. Started at 5am to beat the heat. Finished at noon..........thermo meter says its DAMN HOT (95F) out there. Might be time to try out the swimming pool we never use. The dog uses it more than anyone!!LOL
As for renting it out.........it would be to my buddies who are also heavy equipment mechanics. Gonna have my lawyer draw up a release of liability..........I guess. Just need to get one first. Which one??? No idea. Done w/ hammers though.............all done.
I feel if you are up to cutting slots in plates to make the pad fit you need to really think about the task as all you are doing is damaging someones equipment, the cylinders I use are 105 ton and 74 ton standard CAT Service press items, I do have a 200 Ton hollow cylinder for nasty jobs, there is a trick you can do so when you press up the pin it keeps the link spacing correct to always fit the pad, I have a large range of dummy pins up to 63mm that make things very easy and a load of press head collars to fit from a Fiat FL4 pin up to the largest pin I need to press in at 63 mm, i also have short dummy plates that I can bolt to the links to retain the bolt spacing, I don't use these very often as I like to think I can do things faster with the trick, the 2 Tie rods are still in the CAT tool book and work well , I would think hard about blowing big coins on something that looks an animal to mess with, I have posted plenty of pictures of pin pressing and know how to make it pay, the secret would be do the job yourself with your own kit, let no one hire it or go near it and you have a Market to yourself, if they want a pin pressed they come to you only, the difference in pin length and Diameter due to who's made the chain will also get you struggling, so always check the pin is the correct spec before getting any kit out, also always get the Equipment owners to supply all the hardware then you cannot get in the wrong, I have about 2 ton's of press tooling so I get plenty of Rum jobs, sadly I am at the end of my time now and have already cut back to having Sunday afternoon off 2 times a month. tctractors